Top 5 Precautions You Should Take After Getting an IVF Treatment

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is an effective way to treat infertility problems. IVF treatment has helped many childless couples to solve their problem of infertility, which could have been due to any reason. In the IVF procedure, the eggs are fertilized outside the mother’s body and then they are implanted back into the woman’s uterus. All women are advised to take certain precautions during this critical stage. If a woman has undergone IVF treatment, she needs to take proper safety measures to increase her chances of a successful pregnancy.

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Safety Precautions to Take Post IVF Treatment

Here are some precautions you shoul keep in mind after getting an IVF treatment:

1. Avoid Sexual Intercourse

Avoid indulging in sexual intercourse as it helps in preventing vaginal infections. Additionally, it can help in healing the woman’s ovaries after her eggs have been harvested.

2. Say No To Heavy Lifting

Avoid lifting heavy weights. Many doctors ask a woman not to lift heavy items during the two-week waiting time before they confirm the pregnancy. Heavy lifting may strain abdominal muscles that have been stressed by the IVF treatment. A woman should stay away from any strenuous household chores.

3. No Baths

Several fertility doctors caution women against baths and swimming during their two-week wait after IVF treatment. This is because a foreign substance may enter the vagina during the bath and cause an infection that may cause a miscarriage. Alternatively, women can take showers instead. Women are also advised to avoid douching.

4. Avoid Strenuous Exercise

Women who have undergone IVF treatment are advised not to indulge in any heavy exercise or aerobics after the IVF procedure. Light exercises such as walking and beginner yoga are recommended rather than running or weightlifting.

5. Take Progesterone

Post ovulation, it is essential to have an adequate amount of progesterone in a woman’s body to maintain pregnancy. Although the body produces progesterone naturally, doctors too prescribe artificial progesterone in suppository or injection form to ensure the right levels of the hormone are maintained during this time. Doctors recommend that the injections continue until the twelfth week of pregnancy when the female body begins to produce enough of the hormone on its own.

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Final Thoughts

Apart from the aforementioned precautions, a woman is advised to stay away from caffeine, alcohol, drugs, and smoking. Once a woman has undergone IVF treatment, it is vitally important to follow the doctor's advice in case of safety precautions. A woman should try to keep all her worries and stress at bay. She should try to be happy and cheerful after the IVF treatment and prepare herself to experience the joys of pregnancy.

References

1. DeCherney AH. (1986). In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a brief overview. Yale J Biol Med.

2. Amini P, Ramezanali F, Parchehbaf-Kashani M, Maroufizadeh S, Omani-Samani R, Ghaheri A. (2021). Factors Associated with In Vitro Fertilization Live Birth Outcome: A Comparison of Different Classification Methods. Int J Fertil Steril.